After the return, the economic viability of Guatemalan returned refugee communities

by Brook, Matthew Harris

Abstract (Summary)

Thousands of Guatemalan rehgees have returned to their homeland since the Guatemdan
government and representatives of the refugee population signed an accord in 1992
governing the return process. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the economic
viability of Ixtahuacan Chiquito, one of the comrnunities that has been recently founded or
re-established by returning refugees. Economic viability is understood to represent the
ability of the community to provide for its 'core' basic needs. The thesis is based primarily
on the results of field research conducted in Ixtahuacan Chiquito and Guatemala City.
Research methods employed include serni-structured interviews conducted with
Ixtahuacanites and a wide variety of other actors in the return process, participant
observation and archiva1 investigation. An exploration of three aspects of economic
viability - production, commercialization and finance - in Ixtahuacin Chiquito, establishes
that the community currently does not have the ability to meet its core basic needs. The
economic viability of Ixtahuacan Chiquito is comprornised most seriously by the inability
to cornmercialize production, presently the oniy feasible means of internally generating the
income required to rneet those basic needs not provided for by subsistence production.
The lack of a road and insufficient access to capital makes cornmercialization of
Ixtahuacan Chiquito's products virtualIy impossible. Long-term economic viability is
seriously compromised by a potential deterioration in land quality caused by an insufficient
quantity of land, population pressure and non-sustainable farrning practices. An
examination of other returned refugee cornmunities finds that they are in a sirnilar
siîuation. A series of rneasures are proposed to enable the establishment of an
econornically viable community: integration into the national road system, realization of
reliable access to credit and technical assistance and irnproved access to health and
education services. This will encourage the cultivation of comrnercially viable crops
which, incidentally, are more appropriate to the ecology of the region. An analysis of
factors affecting the implementation of these measures outlines the need for a government
cornrnitted to the building of a strong, effective state and the crafting and implementation
of a comprehensive rural development plan. The analysis finds that the current
Guaternalan government is not willing to make these cornrnitments, due primarily to its
neoliberal economic agenda.
Para aquellos que me abrieron mis ojos
Estamos creando polos de rniseria en areas de retornados. Sembramos
la planta, pero no la estamos cuidando. Hay que regarla y cuidarla.
We are creating centres of misey in areas of return. We plant the seed,
but we don't care for the plant. It is necessasr to water it and care for it.
Rubio Mejia - Permanent Commissions (northwest sector)